Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1887-03-17
SPEECH
OF THE
HON. .B SOMMERVILLE,
on
PARTY ORGANIZATION
AND
MAJORITY RULE,
In SecOnding Mr. Cdmden's Nomination
for u, .,ed States Senator.
SPEECH
MAJORITY RULE,

MH. PREsl In arising to second
the nomination Hon. johnson \. Cam
den 50 ably and eloquently made by my
friend, the gentleman from Gilmer, desire
to say to my distinguished friend from the
county of Jefferson, who has detained SO
eloQuently against the nomination. that |,
like himself have the honor in my humble
way to represent an agricultural section
OF the state. All that the honorable gen.
tlsman has said, and all that he may say,
and all that may be said by others here con-
corning the dignity and Importance of ag-
riculture will find a ready response among
the people whom have the honor to rep
resent. In all that pertains to this subject,
the Northern Panhandle will always be
found ready TO join hands with the Eastern
Panhandle. But sir, we do not feel called
upon to assail or attempt TO break down the
railroad and other interests OF the State.
We DO not belong to that class OF people
who imb the forest trees or HE themselves
TO their hiding places in order 10 escape the
sight or avoid the sound of locomotive
engine. We believe, sir, that If West Nlr-
GINA has suffered in connection with the
subject of railroads, it has been because we
have not had enough OF them, and not be-
cause we had too many OF them. Nor DO
we believe that we are superior IN intellect,
integrity or virtue TO our fellow men, anu
that minority of our number, however
large, respectable or important that minor
lty may be, has right To dictate policy
or a party candidate to the majority OF our
party. \ very large majority OF the Dem
ocratic members ST this Legislature, with Il
unauimity almost unknown in the history
OF party poitics I'm On state, has seen lit
in its wisdom, and by the only method
known for the organization and government
OF political parties. 10 place before tins
joint assembly party nominee Tor the hlgh
and important office OF United States Sena-
Tor. The very moment that nomination
was made, the election or defeat OF The nom
iuce ceased % be a question OF the personal
advancement or political destiny OF john
son \. Camden and became at once queS-
ton of the pres rvation of the Integrity,
organization and existence OF the Demo
cratic party in this State. No one will tell
me that political parties can be perpeluated
or party organization maintained without
the help OF party nominations. In the
very nature of things this must be true.
The party caucus is simply the party coun-
Gil, q part of the machinery by which the
policy of the party is shaped and the leaders
are enabled to carry out that policy 10y q
pre- arranged concert of action.
No party has ever yet sought to accom-
pish anything in this State IN the way Of
electing public officers, without first resort
ing to some form OF caucus, for the purpose
of making nominations and every gentle
man who Is here to-day participating IN the
proceedings of this joint assembly, includ-
ing Is presiding officer, is here as the eau
Gus or convention lomlnee of his party and
owes his election to that fact. Sir, / admit
the errors that are sometimes connected
with party caucuses and conventions; but,
Notwithstanding these errors, no man, no
party and no set OF men, however wise, pru-
dent or virtuOus, have ever been able to
suggest or devise anything that will remove
the difficulties or produce better results, and
these evils too. are such Is grow out OF the
abuse and peryersiOn of the system aud not
OUT OF The proper use Of it. And, Sir, say
to the few Democrats here who assume 20
themselves an amount Of political integrity
and sJgacity which entities them to dictate
81 policy and a candidate % the majority Of
their party that there is no place for them
Within their party unless they are willing to
come into and be governed by its duly Or
eaaized and constituted councils. However
good their intentions may be, their action
II persisted ia can have but one result, and
that /, the disruption and final defeat and
destruction of their party in this state; and
unless they are prepared to join hands with
our political enemie, they must either return
to the Democratic fold and gracefully acqui-
csce i'm the will OF the majority, or accom-
pish by indrectOn what | am sure they
W. u.d scorn to do directly. There was new
er less excuse for bolt than there is in this
case. and no minority ever had less to iusti-
h- its course. DO not feel called upon to
assign reasons for the loyal support of our
nominee beyond the fact that he was fairly
and honestly nominated. No true Demo
crat wants any other reason. We have no
apology TO offer to any one for the nOmina-
ton of johnson y. Camden. Upon the
contrary il Is nomination OF which we are
ali proud and OF which we have a right to
be proud Our candidate-the candidate
of the Democratic party-iS man who Is
fit 10 be United States Senator. He Is our
senior Senator now, and by his manly,
straightforward and Democratic course he
ha, not only reflected credit upon our State
but has made for himself a reputation which
reache, lar beyond The confines OF hi, State;
and boldly affirm here and nov, without
the fear ol successful contradiction or reiu-
tation from any source, that in point OF hon
e,ty. integrity aud political integrity, John
son y Camden Is the peer of any man
whose name has been mentioned in e0nnec-
ton with the office of United States Sena-
tor. He is rich, il Is true, but no man will
undertake to say that he ever acquired one
dollar of hi, wealth by dishonest means,
aud he does not possess a dollar OF wealth
that the honorable gent eman from the
county of Jefferson would not willingly and
gladly share with him if by any honest
means he could do so. IL is charged also
that Mr.. Camden j, monopolist, but this
deny and challenge the gentleman from
Jefferson or any other gentleman, to take
his record Is q United States Senator and
point out a single vote or q single act IN the
interest of monopoly. That record, sir
will show that in every instance In which
the rights OF the people were Involved a
against the entertainments of corporate and
gersgate wealth. johnson \. Camden has
been found with his vote and influence
upon the side of the people; and sir, his
every act and vote has shown that he pos
se.ses the rsnuiSite qualifications of Jeifer